Report: Southampton have “had talks” with Liverpool over Takumi Minamino transfer

Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed his intent on making Liverpool loanee Takumi Minamino a permanent signing at Southampton.

Minamino spent the second half of the 2020-21 Premier League campaign with Southampton on loan, scoring two goals in 10 games.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has suggested he wants to keep the Japan international at Anfield after signing him early in 2020 from RB Leipzig.

However, it seems that stance may have changed as Liverpool look to sell to fund some signings in the summer transfer window.

“The most important thing for him is that he gets a chance to play,” Hasenhuttl told Hampshire Live. “We had so much rotation with injuries and everything that it was clear he would get a lot of game time with us.

“We have had talks with them and they are not so sure what will happen because Liverpool may make some things happen in the transfer market. For him, it was important to play. We gave him that chance to play and we have enjoyed having him here.”

With the promise of game time that isn’t guaranteed at a club like Liverpool, Hasenhuttl seems to suggest that Minamino is interested in making a South Coast switch.

“Players like to join big clubs because they get a lot of money there and they get a lot of praise,” Hasenhuttl said. “But it is only for a short moment because when you are not playing it feels very awful very quickly.”